Bi-linear platform reactive damper

Abstract

A bi-linear platform reactive damper for automotive type vehicles, which includes a damper housing having a chamber with a damper piston in it, which piston has a rod extending from it connected to the suspension of the vehicle, which chamber is filled with hydraulic fluid, the chamber being connected to an external reservoir containing a separator piston, with gas on the side of the piston opposite to the hydraulic fluid, and having an adjustable separator piston stop. The damper housing has a secondary chamber which is in fluid communication with said damper chamber. A movable spring platform is provided, externally mounted to the damper chamber and engaged with said secondary chamber, with a chassis spring mounted between the suspension of an automotive vehicle and engaging the platform, so that upon displacement of the suspension, the rod causes the damper piston to displace hydraulic fluid into the reservoir which causes the separator piston to bottom against the stop which acts to provide a predetermined spring rate for the fluid to work against. Further displacement of the damper piston causes fluid to displace the spring platform compressing the spring increasing the reactive force whereby overall suspension movement is reduced.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.